Clinometer



P. 0. DAVIDSON. Ghnometer No. 226,723. Patented April 20,1880.

Jrwub&7.1cu/tdson N. PETERS. PHOTOJJTNOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK C. DAVIDSON, OF MAHOMET, ILLINOIS.

CLINOMETER.

SPEdIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 226,723, dated April20, 1880.

Application filed February 16, 1880.

To all whom it may concern;-

Be itknown that I, FRANK G. DAVIDSON,

a citizen of the United States,.residing at Mahomet, in the county ofOhampaign and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Olinometers; and I do hereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, suchas willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and toletters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

This invention relates to a clinometer specially adapted forascertaining the slope or fall of ditches for laying drain or tiles.

The invention more particularly relates to a base-piece of od or othermaterial to which is hinged aspirn. or other level having aspringbolt orset-scr w adapted to engage a graduated arc to indicate the fall ininches or fractions thereof to the foot or rod in a given ditch.

In the drawings illustrating my invention, in which like parts aresimilarly designated 'in the several figures, Figure l is a perspectiveview of my clinometer; Fig. 2, a side elevation thereof; Fig. 3, apartial top-plan view, showing the spring-bolt; and Fig. 4, aperspective view of the spring-bolt removed.

The letter A designates a base of wood or other material, to the upperedge of which is hinged or jointed at one end a spirit or other level,B. At the free end of this level, or that end opposite its hinged end,is fixed a finger, index, or pointer, a, which may be slotted, so as toembrace or saddle a graduated and notched or toothed are, 0.

The are 0 may be of metal, and is rigidly secured to the top of the basein a longitudinal plane perpendicular thereto.

The under side of the level-stock may be recessed to receive a bolt orpush-piece, D, which may be conveniently pivoted in the index-plate a atlg, the pivot turning in said plate, and resilience being imparted tothe bolt by a spring, 0, bearing against the pivot at one end, andconfined in the level-stock at the other.

The end (I of the bolt projects from the end of the level-stocksufficiently far to engage with the notches in the are C to hold thelevel at the desired inclination.

The readings are preferably made below the index.

To extend the applicability of the implement to the indication of fallsof great extent, a second or auxiliary are, E, may be arranged toproject through the level-stock at or near its hinged end, and so aid insustainin g it, or may be otherwise connected with it, such are having aradius equal to the radius of the are described by the level-stock. Thelevel is adjusted to the desired angle upon this auxiliary arc and heldby means of a setscrew, F, in the instance here given fitted in thelevel-stock. The readings on this auxiliary are are taken from the topline of the level-' stock. This device is used by assuming the bed to bea straight-edge and setting the level at the desired angle thereto bysecuring it thereatv either by the spring-bolt to the are 0 or by theset-screw to the are E. This angle indicates the desired fall to begiven to the ditch, and this fall is indicated by the level when thestraight-edge or base obtains in the bed of the ditch an inclinationsufficient to bring the level to the horizontal.

My invention is specially adapted for securing a perfect and uniformfall in tile-ditches; but it will be seen that it is applicableelsewhere.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combination of abase, A, a level, B, hinged at one end, with apointer, a, andspringcatch-retaining device D, attached to the other end, and agraduated notched are, C, for holding said level at a given point,substantially as shown and described.

2. A holding device or catch consisting of a plate, a, and pivoted boltD, turning in said plate, and provided with a spring, 0, attached to thepivot at b, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

F. o. DAVIDSON.

Witnesses:

J. 0. WARE, H. F. WILsON.

